April 6, 2007
Erbil, Kurdistan region (Iraq), --- President
Massoud Barzani welcomed Jean-François Girault , the
French ambassador to Iraq Thursday. At the meeting,
the French ambassador said he appreciated the warm
welcome he has received in Kurdistan.
He said he had had successful talks with government
officials, the aim of his visit being to strengthen
bilateral relations between France and Kurdistan. He
announced that France intends to open an embassy in
Hawler (Erbil), the capital of Kurdistan, in the
near future.
The ambassador said he was impressed by the scale of
the progress Kurdistan is undergoing, particularly
with regard to democracy and economic growth.
President Barzani said that France and the European
Union should not ignore the political process taking
place in Iraq. He emphasized that the people of
Kurdistan are seeking a federal, democratic Iraq as
specified in the constitution voted for by the
majority of Iraqis. |

Massoud Barzani, the President of the Regional
Government of Kurdistan |